Panel: Career Pathways for STEM Technicians

1. CAREER PATHWAYS FOR
STEM TECHNICIANS
Panel Presentation 27 October 2011
NSF/ATE PI Conference
Dan Hull OP-TEC
Allen Phelps Univ. of Wisconsin
John Souders OP-TEC
Greg Kepner Indian Hills CC

2. What is
Career Pathways for STEM Technicians?
A “Win-Win” solution to two National Problems:
1. Not enough technicians to support innovation,
economic development and defense.
2. Inadequate educational opportunities for
capable, struggling high school students, who
need—and deserve—an opportunity for
rewarding careers.

3. A Major Problem for Our Colleges?
• How strong is your enrollment?
• How high is your attrition?
• Are you providing enough
program completers to meet
employer’s demands?

4. RISING ABOVE THE GATHERING STORM, REVISITED
Rapidly Approaching Category 5
By Members of the 2005 “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” Committee
Prepared for the Presidents of the
National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Engineering
Institute of Medicine
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES,
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING, AND
INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

5. Rising Above the Gathering Storm:
Rapidly Approaching Category 5
• National Academies Reports
 U.S. not producing enough technical workers: Losing our
Technical edge & ability to innovate.
 Original report released in 2007: A “Call to Action”.
Second Report Released in 2010: “Not Much Action
underway”.
• RECOMMENDATION: Encourage more students to
pursue careers in math, science and engineering.
Growth in STEM is small.
Quality of math & science education ranks U.S. 48th in
world.

6. The Three-Legged Stool of our
Technical Workforce
• Scientists: Explore and characterize the
theories; discover new applications.
• Engineers: Design and test new applications,
systems and processes.
• Technicians: The “geniuses of the lab” Put the
equipment together, make it operate and keep
it working.

7. Where do Technicians Come From?
• High Schools—Don’t have enough science and technology
basics to meet employer’s needs for entry-level jobs.
• Military and Apprenticeships—Strong hardware experience
but too narrowly focused.
• AS & AAS Degree Programs in Community Colleges—The
appropriate combination of “head skills and hand skills”.
• BS Degrees in Engineering & Science—Not enough equipment
and lab skills.
• A recent national study by OP-TEC showed that most
employers prefer technicians with AAS degrees

8. PATHWAYS TO
O
PROSPERITY
P MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF
MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF
PREPARING YOUNG AMERICANS
PREPARING YOUNG AMERICANS
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
PAT H W A Y S T O P R O S P E RI T Y P R O J E C T
F E B R UA R 0 1 1
J A NUA RY ,Y 22 0 1 1

9. Pathways to Prosperity
Questions the Value Of “College for All”
• By Harvard Grad School of Education Feb. 2011
 “..majority of HS students are not well-served by the exclusive
focus on four year colleges.. “
 “For many of our youth, we have treated preparing for college
and preparing for a career as mutually exclusive options…”
• Gary Hoachlander reinforces this:
“..We must recognize that there are many different ways
for high school students to pursue and achieve
excellence…”

10. Partner with STEM High Schools to Provide an
Alternative Pathway for Students who Want
to attend Colleges to Become Technicians
• Currently, there are over 3000 STEM High Schools in U.S.
• Most of them are focused on a curriculum to prepare 15-
20% of the students to pursue BS degrees to become
scientists and engineers.
• Requirements for abstract math, like pre calculus are
eliminating technician students.
• An alternate curriculum in 11 & 12 grades could provide a
pathway for STEM technicians.
• It would not be difficult or expensive to add this alternative.

11. Proposed Alternative Curriculum
Pathways for STEM High Schools

12. Elements of a High School STEM Curriculum
that Accommodates, Supports, and
Encourages Potential Technician Students
• Teach science and math courses with applications
• Adjust the eleventh- and twelfth-grade math sequence.
• Create a sequence of technical courses that will prepare students
to enter Engineering Technician AAS-degree programs
• PLTW Tier 1 Courses will Support this Curriculum in the 9th and
10th grades.
• 11th & 12th Grade Technical Courses can be Dual-Credit Courses
from AAS Degree College Programs
 Courses from “technical core” in 11th grade
 Technical specialty courses in 12th grade

13. Proposed Curriculum Model
Soph 2 Elective Humanities Technical Technical Technical Core
Core Specialty
Soph 1 Elective Social Science Technical Technical Technical Core
Core Specialty
Technical
Fresh 2 College Physical Technical Specialty Technical Core
Algebra Science Core
Technical
Fresh 1 College Physical Technical Specialty Technical Core
English Science Core
12th Algebra 2 English Government Physics Health Technical Technical
Grade w/Trig 12 Specialty Specialty
11th Math English American Chemistry Physical Technical Technical
Grade Applications 11 History Education Core Core
10th Geometry English World History Biology Physical Foreign Principles of
Grade 10 Education Language Engineering
9th Algebra 1 English 9 Geography General Physical Foreign Intro to
Grade Science Education Language Engr Design

14. High School STEM Initiatives
• The nation’s 3,000 high schools with programs go
beyond the silo traditions of U.S. high schools.
• Three recent national studies and commissions have
outlined several key elements of “integrated STEM
education”.

15. Engineering in K-12 Education (2009)
• Integrated STEM education requires explicit subject
matter connections on at least one, preferably
multiple levels—curriculum, professional
development, instruction, and standards. (p. 165)
• Recommendations:
– EE should promote engineering design
– EE should incorporate important and developmentally
appropriate math, science, and technological knowledge
and skills
– EE should promote engineering habits of mind.
• Facilitating Practices: co-locating STEM teaching areas,
identifying STEM teams, providing time for teachers to
coordinate lesson plans that redesign the connected
instruction.

16. Successful K-12 STEM Education (2011)
• Charge: outlining criteria for identifying effective
STEM schools and programs and identifying
which of those criteria could be addressed with
available data and research, and those where
further work is needed to develop appropriate
data sources.
• It is challenging to identify the schools and
programs that are most successful in the STEM
disciplines because success is defined in many
ways and can occur in many different types of
schools and settings, with many different
populations of students. (p. 8)

17. Successful K-12 STEM Education
• STEM school types and success criteria
– Selective STEM schools (TJ, IMSA)
– Inclusive STEM high schools (High Tech High, TX academies,
TESLA)
– STEM focused CTE programs and schools
– STEM in comprehensive elementary and secondary schools.
– PLTW serves approximately 350,000 students annually in
roughly 4,000 middle and high schools (Engineering and Bio-
medical Sciences).

18. Framework for K-12 Science Education

19. STEM-Intensive
Career Clusters and Pathways
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Architecture and Construction Arts, AV Technology, and
Resources Communications
• Design and Pre-
• Environmental Service Construction • Audio and Video Technology
Systems • Construction and Film
• Natural Resources Systems • Telecommunications
• Plant systems
• Power, Structural and
Technical Systems
Health Sciences Manufacturing Science, Technology, Engineering,
• Health, Safety, and and Mathematics
• Biotechnology Research Environmental Assurance
and Development • Maintenance, Installation • Engineering and Technology
and Repair • Science and Mathematics
• Manufacturing Production
Process Development
• Production
• Quality Assurance

20. Math Science Partnerships/NSF and
State Education Agencies

21. Strategies for Partnering with
Two Year Colleges
With early 50% of undergraduates starting two-year
colleges, college student success is increasingly
dependent on high school STEM initiatives anchored
in:
• Delivering rigorous dual credit technical and
academic courses to juniors and seniors.
• Providing high quality instructional experiences, e.g.,
integrated courses, internships, project based
learning, college placement assessments, student-to-
student networks in career pathways.

22. STEM Career Pathways
for Photonics Technicians
• Why Photonics?
– It’s an enabling technology
– Supports vital sectors of the U.S. economy: defense and security,
telecommunications, remote sensing, manufacturing, biomedicine,
opto-electronics, etc..
• Why Photonics Technicians?
– High Demand: Need > Capacity
• 1200 more photonics technician needed each year through 2013
• Only 250/year graduating from college programs
– Attractive salaries: Entry-level photonics technicians are averaging
$40K/year—provides a good standard of living
– Provide a viable means for the middle 50% of HS students to become
valued and essential members of the U.S’s high tech workforce.
– Require STEM skills to meet workplace demands

23. STEM Preparation is Essential for
Photonics Technicians
• Photonics Technicians must be able to*:
– Use the basic principles, concepts, and laws of physic and optics in practical applications
– Use algebra and trigonometry as problem solving tools
– Analyze, troubleshoot and repair equipment
– Use materials processes, equipment, methods, and techniques common in photonics
– Apply detailed knowledge in photonics with an understanding of applications and
industrial processes
– Use IT resources for information management, equipment and process control, and
design
– Record, analyze, interpret, synthesize, and transmit facts and ideas objectively
– Communicate information effectively by oral, written, and graphical means
*Source: OP-TEC National Photonics Skill Standards for Technicians ( www.op-tec.org )
• Bottom-line: Photonics technicians require a STEM-based curriculum
• What would this curriculum contain?
– Rigorous Math and Science courses taught in an applied/ contextual manner
– Technology Courses applicable to a broad cross section of technical fields—career
exploration
– Multiple offerings of dual credit courses—accelerate graduation
– State mandated HS courses

24. From Model to Practice
Model STEM Curriculum Photonics STEM Curriculum
Soph 2 Elective Humanities Technical Technical Technical Core Soph 2 Elective Humanities Laser Devices Laser Electronics Laser
Core Specialty Measurements
Soph 1 Elective Social Trouble Laser Technology Laser
Soph 1 Elective Social Science Technical Technical Technical Core
Science Shooting and Components
Core Specialty
Repair
Technical
Techniques
Fresh 2 College Algebra Physical Technical Specialty Technical Core
Geometric/Wave
Science Core
Fresh 2 College Physical Computer Optics Programmable
Technical
Algebra Science Aided Design Logic Controllers
Fresh 1 College Physical Technical Specialty Technical Core
English Science Core Introduction to
Fresh 1 College Physical Analog Lasers Electronic
12th Algebra 2 English 12 Government Physics Health Technical Technical English Science Devices Devices
Grade w/Trig Specialty Specialty
12th Algebra 2 English Government Physics Health Elements of AC/DC Circuit
Grade w/Trig 12 Photonics Analysis
11th Math English 11 American Chemistry Physical Technical Technical
Grade Applications History Education Core Core 11th Math English American Chemistry Physical Fundamentals of Digital
Grade Applications 11 History Education Light and Lasers Electronics
10th Geometry English 10 World History Biology Physical Foreign Principles of 10th Geometry English World Biology Physical Foreign Language Principles of
Grade Education Language Engineering Grade 10 History Education Engineering
9th Algebra 1 English 9 Geography General Physical Foreign Intro to 9th Algebra 1 English Geography General Physical Foreign Language Intro to
Grade Science Education Language Engr Design Grade 9 Science Education Engr Design

25. Building the Pipeline
Attracting STEM Students to Photonics
• Create Awareness/Interest
 Middle School and High School classroom visits
 Include Laser light shows and other “Gee Whiz” demo’s
 Emphasize green and humanitarian applications such as photovoltaics,
LED’s, medical applications, environmental monitoring, etc.
 Invite parents and counselors
 Field trips to photonics companies and colleges
 Career Fairs with Dedicated Recruiters
• Provide Exploration Opportunities
 Summer Institutes—Teachers/Counselors/Students
 Freshman/Sophomore High School-level Photonics Course
 Internships
• Offer Early College Entry/Accelerated Graduation
Alternatives
 Dual Credit—conducted on a college campus (Early Entry)
 STEM Photonics Technician Curriculum (Early Entry)
 Early College Program (Early Entry/Accelerated Graduation)

26. IHCC’s Early College
Curriculum Features
• Adaptation of the Model
Curriculum
Optical Photonics Photonics
Fresh 4 Systems Systems Lab Applications
Analysis
Communication Physical Photonics Automated
Fresh 3 s Elective Optics
Geometric
Troubleshootin
g
Laser System
Laser Processing
Optical Devices
• Supports Companies in the
Fresh 2 Optics Fundamentals
Advanced Manufacturing
Fresh 1
Science
Elective
Introduction
to Solidworks
Introduction to
Photonics
Photonics
Laser
Components Industry
12th Grade College English Elective/ Ethics/ Physics Concepts Digital
• Requires 3-years: two in HS and
Introduction
Algebra Workplace Government to Computers Electronics
Communication Physical Power Transfer
s
one at IHCC--accelerates
Education Technology
Analog Devices
11th Grade Technical
Math
English 11 American
History
Chemistry Physical
Education
AC/DC
Circuit Analysis Business
Essentials
placement in the workforce by
10th Grade Geometry English 10 World History Biology Physical Foreign Principles of
one year
Education Language Engineering
9th Grade Algebra 1 English 9 Geography General
Science
Physical
Education
Computer
Applications
Introduction to
Engr Design
• Generates 42 hours of dual credit
• Contains 3 Project Lead the Way
Courses
• Implemented initially in 2007
with 7 students
• 6 graduates in 2010 with an
average starting salary of $40,000

27. The CPST Monograph is five chapters of
a CPST Book that will be completed in
early 2012.
It will contain additional chapters on:
Characteristics & Learning Styles of Technicians
Dual-Credit courses
5-6 additional chapters by other Centers, describing
strategies for engaging high schools in Career
Pathway Partnerships
I need your comments and advice:

28. Discussion Questions #1 & #2
1. Who are the key decision makers for
adopting CPST at high schools in your
community?
2. Do you know who they are? How have you
worked w/them on “pipeline” issues already?

29. Discussion Questions #3 & #4
3. What are the greatest barriers to
adopting the CPST Strategy?
4. How can they be overcome?

30. Discussion Question #5 & #6
5. What is the potential role of STEM technician
employers for this initiative?
6. How should they be motivated to support
this?